An ambitious Black History Month celebration project at the University of Washington School of Music convened faculty, students, and staff around pipe organs in six different Seattle locations in the creation of the Black Composers Project.
Created and led by Dr. Stephen Price, head of organ studies at the UW, the project culminated in a one-hour video featuring original music and adaptations of works by composers Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-George; Scott Joplin; Samuel Coleridge-Taylor; Florence Price; Charles Lloyd, Jr.; David Hurd; and Eurydice Osterman.
Participating student musicians included Taylor DeCastro, violin; Lorin Green, flute; Tyleen Stults, organ, Cole Henslee, organ, Cee Adamson, mezzo-soprano, and Martha Freitag, organ, either performing solo or alongside Dr. Price.
Associate Professor Anne Searcy, Music History, provided historical context about each composer and the times in which they worked. School of Music staff members John Fredenburg, Doug Niemela, and Colin Todd provided recording and post-production services.
Recording venues included the Walker-Ames Room, Kane Hall (UW campus); Plymouth Church; Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church; University Presbyterian Church; St. Alphonsus Catholic Church; and St. Mark’s Cathedral, all of which house pipe organs regularly accessed by UW organ students and faculty for rehearsal, performance, and research.
“I am so thankful for the participation of students, faculty, and staff in the School of Music and their talents and efforts in making this project possible,” says Dr. Price, the Paul B. Fritts Faculty Fellow in Organ Performance at the UW. “This project has been a tremendous undertaking, and we hope our audiences will enjoy the presentation.”
Program
UW Walker-Ames (Kane Hall)
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-George
Violin Sonata III in G minor; Allegro,
Taylor DeCastro, violin, Dr. Stephen Price, organ
Plymouth Church
Scott Joplin, Maple Leaf Rag,
Lorin Green, flute; Dr. Stephen Price, organ
Plymouth Church
From the Four Spiritual Preludes "Were You There" arr. David Hurd
Lorin Green, flute; Dr. Stehen Price, organ
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
Impromptu No.2, Op. 78, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Cole Henslee, organ
University Presbyterian Church
IV. Toccato from the Suite for Organ, No.1
Florence Price
Tyleen Stults, organ
Plymouth Church
"Compensation," Charles Lloyd Jr.
Dr. Cee Adamson, mezzo-soprano
St. Mark's Cathedral
Collage for Organ Meditation, Dr. Eurydice Osterman
Martha Freitag, organ
St. Alphonsus Catholic Church
From the Four Spiritual Preludes "Oh, What A Beautiful City" arr. David Hurd
Dr. Stephen Price, organ
Plymouth Church
From the Four Spiritual Preludes "Go Down, Moses" and "Deep River" arr. David Hurd,
Dr. Stephen Price, organ
Plymouth Church
"Every Time I feel the Spirit"
Dr. Cee Adamson, mezzo-soprano; Dr. Stephen Price, organ